LESS GUESSWORK. THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF GRAVEL.
Gravel Calculator
Know how much gravel your project needs. Estimate volume, weight, and material cost for a path, driveway, or garden bed—before you place an order.
with the right numbers.
Your measurements
Enter your measurements to get started.
Example measurements are filled in. Adjust them for your project.
THE SHORT ANSWER
How much gravel
do you need?
First calculate the space to fill in cubic yards. Then multiply by the gravel’s bulk density to estimate its weight. There is no single yard-to-ton conversion for every material.
US short tons = cubic yards × density (US tons/yd³)
01 / MEASURE THE SPACE. ESTIMATE THE ORDER.
A useful estimate starts with three things.
Area and layer depth
Enter length, width, and the desired thickness of the gravel layer. Already know the area? Switch to “Known area.” For a circular or irregular footprint, calculate the area first.
The material’s density
Gravel type, grading, moisture, and packing affect weight per cubic yard. Start with a labeled estimate, then replace it with the supplier’s bulk density for a more useful order quantity.
The supplier’s price unit
Enter a price per US short ton, cubic yard, or bag. For bag estimates, include the weight per bag. Costs use your price, not a current market quotation.
A small path, worked out
A 20 × 10 ft area with a 3-inch gravel layer has a geometric volume of approximately 1.85 yd³.
20 × 10 × 3 ÷ 324 = 1.85185 yd³
Using an illustrative density of 1.5 US short tons/yd³:
1.85185 × 1.5 = 2.78 US short tons.
At $50 per US short ton, that is $138.89 before delivery, tax, labor, or an extra allowance.
Why density matters
The generic gravel preset uses 1.5 US short tons per cubic yard; pea gravel uses 1.35. These are editable planning assumptions, selected within published general ranges. They are not measurements of the material you will receive.
For 2 cubic yards, a density of 1.4 US tons/yd³ gives 2.8 US tons, while 1.7 gives 3.4 US tons. The difference matters when you order by weight.
Confirm density and any compaction allowance with your supplier. Read the density assumptions and limitations.
What will a ton of gravel cover?
Coverage depends on both bulk density and depth. Using this tool’s generic assumption of 1.5 US short tons/yd³, one US short ton is approximately 0.667 yd³.
| Depth | Approximate area | Density assumption |
|---|---|---|
| 2 inches | 108 ft² | 1.5 US tons/yd³ |
| 3 inches | 72 ft² | 1.5 US tons/yd³ |
| 4 inches | 54 ft² | 1.5 US tons/yd³ |
| 6 inches | 36 ft² | 1.5 US tons/yd³ |
Formula: coverage (ft²) = 324 ÷ [density (US tons/yd³) × depth (in)]. Excludes settling, compaction, and spillage. These depths are examples, not installation recommendations.
Gravel bags: volume or weight?
Check the unit printed on the bag. A cubic-foot label gives volume; a pound label gives weight. For example, QUIKRETE HardScapes stone products are listed in 0.5 ft³ bags, while QUIKRETE All-Purpose Gravel is listed in 50 lb bags. These are separate product examples, not a universal conversion between 50 lb and 0.5 ft³.
| Bag label | Whole-bag calculation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Volume in ft³ | Round up (required yd³ × 27 ÷ bag ft³) | 1 yd³ ÷ 0.5 ft³ per bag = 54 bags |
| Weight in lb | Round up (US tons × 2,000 ÷ bag lb) | 1 US ton ÷ 50 lb per bag = 40 bags |
The calculator’s bag-weight field uses pounds. For a bag labeled only in cubic feet, use the volume formula above. Do not infer its weight without a product-specific density. Both methods exclude any extra allowance unless you add it to the required quantity.
BEFORE YOU PLACE THE ORDER
Gravel questions, answered.
Is a ton the same as a metric tonne?
No. This calculator’s primary weight is the US short ton: 2,000 lb, or exactly 907.18474 kg. A metric tonne is 1,000 kg. Both are shown, but all “US tons” prices and densities refer to short tons. A British long ton is a different unit and is not used here.
How many tons are in a cubic yard of gravel?
It depends on the material’s bulk density. With the generic preset of 1.5 US short tons per cubic yard, 1 yd³ gives 1.5 US short tons. Replace that assumption with the supplier’s figure rather than treating it as a universal conversion.
Can this calculate pea gravel?
Yes. Select “Pea gravel” to use the editable starting assumption of 1.35 US short tons per cubic yard. Grain size and product details vary, so confirm the actual bulk density when available.
How deep should gravel be for a driveway?
There is no single depth suitable for every driveway. Soil load, subgrade, drainage, material grading, and the base and surface layers all matter. Obtain a suitable design or supplier recommendation, then calculate each layer separately with its own material density.
Does the calculator round up bags or truckloads?
Bag counts round up to the next whole bag when you enter a bag weight. Bulk tons and cubic yards are mathematical estimates rounded for display; they are not rounded to a supplier’s minimum delivery. Confirm order increments and vehicle capacity with your supplier.
Does extra material include compaction?
No automatic compaction factor is applied. Extra material simply multiplies the calculated quantity by 1 + your percentage ÷ 100. A true compaction adjustment depends on whether measurements describe loose or installed volume and on the actual material.
Density context: Inch Calculator density ranges. See our methodology. These are estimates, not supplier quotations. Updated August 28, 2026.